Iran Reports First Payment for Strait of Hormuz Passage

On April 23rd local time, the Iranian Parliament's Deputy Speaker announced that the first revenue from the Strait of Hormuz toll has been transferred to the central bank account.

This fee arrangement is based on the two-week ceasefire agreement reached in early April, under which Iran and Oman are permitted to levy fees on transit vessels, with the funds planned to be used for post-war reconstruction in Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif previously stated that ships can safely transit after coordination with Iran's armed forces, but this promise is facing a severe test with actual passage.

On the same day the fees were received, Iranian military personnel fired on three merchant ships and seized the MSC Francesca and the bulk carrier Epaminondas. According to Bloomberg, this is the first time Iran has seized commercial vessels in nearly eight weeks of conflict, with the Epaminondas being spotted heading towards Iran's Qeshm Island. As a result, commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly been interrupted. Vessel tracking data shows that only one bulk carrier was navigating the waterway early Thursday, with most tankers like the Ocean Jewel stranded at the entrance of the strait.

The game on diplomatic and military levels has further increased the uncertainty of the shipping route. Trump clearly stated on the 22nd that there is no specific timetable for ending the conflict with Iran and denied rumors about the existence of a long-term ceasefire window. Since blocking operations began on April 13th, the U.S. Navy has intercepted and turned back 31 vessels attempting to approach Iran's coastline. Although there are reports that the U.S. side may extend the ceasefire by 3 to 5 days, Iran denies the possibility of a second round of negotiations and accuses the U.S. of false statements.

Currently, the ceasefire deadline predicted by Israeli media is set to end on the 26th, but the two sides have not yet established a clear mechanism for resuming talks. As Iran exercises control over the strait by actually seizing ships, the confrontation between the U.S. and Iran in the critical energy channel has shifted from diplomatic rhetoric to direct physical confrontation. For the global shipping market, this means that the transit risks of the Strait of Hormuz have shifted from increased economic costs to fundamental damage to navigational safety.